INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS INSTITUTE AND THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

This document certifies the Institutional Cooperation Agreement entered into by the Bartolomé de las Casas Institute, on the one hand, represented by its Director, Rosa Alayza Mujica, identified with L.E. N° 07814726, with domicile at Belisario Flores N° 687, Lince Lima, hereinafter the INSTITUTE, and on the other hand, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, crated created by the President of the Republic through Supreme Decree 065-2001-PCM, as amended by Supreme Decree 101-2001-PCM, represented by its Chairman, Doctor Salomón Lerner Febres, identified wirh D.N.I. N° 08771655, appointed to such position through Supreme Resolution 330-2001-PCM with legal domicile at Av. Salaverry N° 2802, Lima 17, hereinafter, the COMMISSION , under the following terms and conditions:

FIRST: PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT

Bartolomé de las Casas Institute

The Bartolomé de las Casas Institute is a non-profit civil association founded in 1974 and registered on January 7th, 1983 on Card 5618 of the Public Registry of Lima, aiming at contributing to the liberation of the people and the country’s comprehensive development from the perspective of the option for the poor.

The liberation we seek puts people at the forefront of every project and promotes personal growth together with structural and collective aspects, while taking into account the social, economic, cultural and gender dimensions of life.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a high level entity created by the Executive Power through Supreme Decree N° 065-2001-PCM of June 4th, 2001, as complemented by Supreme Decree N° 101-2001-PCM, to clarify the process, tasks and responsibilities related to terrorist violence and violations of human rights from May 1980 to November 2000, by both terrorist organizations and members of the state. It also makes proposals for strengthening peace and creating harmony among Peruvians.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has become the ideal mechanism to process and clarify the serious violations of human rights occurred during the violence period –it needs all the support and cooperation of public and private institutions and of citizens at large. In addition, it must direct its efforts at analyzing the causes of violence, contributing to the making of justice by competent entities and preparing proposals for institutional reform and the comprehensive redressing of victims.

SECOND: OBJECTIVES OF THE AGREEMENT

This agreement establishes the framework for cooperation between the Pro Human Rights Association and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the achievement of the following general objectives:

Promoting the process of finding the truth, the rule of law and the redress of victims that will lead to stronger National Reconciliation and democratic government .

Promoting respect for human rights in Peru, with an emphasis on the restitution of violated rights as a result of violence in Peru.

Contributing recommendations for legal, institutional and educational reforms; and to prepare proposals for programs to compensate victims of violence.

Promoting and disseminating the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to enhance its significance for national life and embrace the largest possible number of sectors in society. To this effect, an action plan and projects detailing the work of both institutions will be prepared.

THIRD: COOPERATION AREAS

In line with the objectives of agreement, the cooperation will refer to the following issues:

Providing consulting and a philosophical, ethical and theological perspective around the value of pardon and reconciliation within the frame of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s mandate.

Organizing training workshops and seminars on these subjects both for commissioners and technical experts.

Disseminating information and opinions referred to the Commission and to the topics it will deal with through the media materials produced by the Bartolomé de las Casas Institute in the provinces. These media are Signos, a bi-monthly publication; Signos radio program and Signos Correspondent Network.

Publishing opinion articles referred to the Commission and the relevance of its activities through reflecting on their social, ethical and theological aspects by the Institute’s professionals.

FOURTH: SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS

Specific agreements will be prepared by cooperation areas. The agreement’s scope and duration, and the obligations of the parties will be established in the agreement. Additional areas of cooperation and their scope may also be identified.

FIFTH: FUNDS

The parties are free to request the economic and financial support they need, be it from either public or private, national or international sources.

SIXTH: TERM OF THE AGREEMENT

This agreement shall become effective as from its signing and until the COMMISSION completes its mandate in compliance with Supreme Decree N° 065-2001-PCM, unless one of the parties notifies the other party in writing and one month advance its intention of terminating the agreement.

SEVENTH: OPERATION COORDINATORS

The following operation coordinators will help to comply with the objectives of this agreement:

For the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Javier Ciurlizza Contreras, Executive Secretary

For Bartolome de las Casas Institute: Roza Alayza Mujica, Director

To achieve the objectives of this agreement, both parties, through their operation coordinators or their designers agree to hold joint coordination and action plan meetings when requested by any of the parties.

EIGHTH: INTERPRETATION AND CONTROVERSIES

This agreement is based upon the parties’ good faith. Any controversies arising its interpretation, execution or breach will be resolved by agreement of the parties.

In conformance with the contents and scope of this agreement, the parties sign it in two equally valid copies in Lima on the 19th day of November, 2001.

Rosa Alayza Mujica,
Director
Bartolome de las Casas Institute

Salomón Lerner Febres
President
Truth and Reconciliation Commission